Magical apparatus



Jan. 5,' 1943.

E. M. MASSEY MAGICAL APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 5, 1943 MAGICAL APPARATUS Edward M. Massey, Ardmore, Pa., assignor to Max Holden, New York, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1942, Serial No. 439,466

8 Claims.

This invention relates to magical apparatus, and it relates more particularly to improved means, adaptable for use in various kinds of magical apparatus, whereby various articles may be produced, vanished, or exchanged one for another, and which apparatus may be opened and displayed in such manner as to convince the spectators that the same is devoid of any means for hiding the various articles which are produced, vanished, or exchanged by a performer in the use of the apparatus.

The principal object therefore of the present invention is to provide, in magical apparatus of various kinds and forms, improved means for the concealment of various articles which are placed therein for the purpose of the seemingly magical production, evanishment, or exchange of the same, which apparatus is so constructed and arranged that the same may be displayed at various times during the performance in such manner as to convince the spectators that there is no means for concealment of the various articles used in connection with the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of the character aforesaid, im-

proved means for causing a secret compartment to be moved from one position to another in the manipulation of the apparatus for the purpose of displaying the same to convince the spec- 3 tators of its innocent character.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character aforesaid, which will be largely automatic in its action, whereby the same may be easily manipulated by persons possessing a limited degree of skill, and whereby 35 such persons may readily produce various marvelous and astounding effects for the amusement and bewilderment of the spectators.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from 40 as a silk handkerchief through one or the other 50 of the ends thereof;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central transverse of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view of the section apparatus shown in Fig. 1, but with the various 55 ing walls l6 and l! and a connecting wall I8' parts shown in open positions, for the display of the same to the spectators;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the parts turned over so as to display the inner surfaces of the several panels of the apparatus for the purpose of demonstrating the seemingly Y innocent character of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, from the spectators viewpoint, of the apparatus with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a similar View but with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 4.

It should of course be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, while in the drawings the device is shown as being constructed from sheet metal and to fold to a closed or operative position in the form, in cross section, of an isosceles triangle, nevertheless the same may be made with a greater number of side panels if desired, and also while the apparatus shown in the drawings is of a form preferred for producing, vanishing, and exchanging small compressible articles such as silk handkerchiefs and the like, nevertheless the invention is susceptible of embodiment in various other shapes and sizes, and for operating on other 0 objects, as will be readily apparent to those familiar with the construction and use of magical apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular embodiment of the invention therein shown, the

apparatus primarily consists of three panels, ill,

I I and I2, hinged to each other along their meeting edges whereby the apparatus may be opened to a more or less fiat condition as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and also in Figs. 5 and 6, for demonstrating the seeming absence of means for concealment of the articles produced, vanished, or exchanged, or the same may be folded into the form of an open ended triangular prism as shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

5 bringing of the walls to the position shown in Fig. 1, the panel l2 may be provided along its free edge-with a projecting lip portion 13. The intermediate panel H is provided with an opening M in the center, and in said opening l4 there is pivotally mounted a compartment l5 complemental in shape to the interior of the prism formed when the panels are brought to the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1. Preferably the compartment member I5 is formed by outerfac- To facilitate the which extends across from the edges of the wall members It and ll of the secret compartment l5. This secret compartment I5 is open at the ends to permit access to the interior thereof.

A link member I9 is provided, said link member I9 preferably being made of sheet metal stock of the same thickness as that of the other portions of the apparatus, and for the purpose of heightening the illusion and to camouflage the use of the link member I9, the panel II] has a similar strip 29 secured thereto. Likewise the wall I! of the compartment l5 has a similar strip 21 secured thereto. The strips 20 and 21 seemingly constitute mere ornamental strips onthe outside of the apparatus when the same is folded to the prism shape.

The link member I9 is pivotally connected as at ZI to an extension of the strip member 21 or otherwise connected to the secret compartment I5, and the other end of said link member [9 is pivotally connected as at 22 to the panel I2 of the apparatus at a point so located as to cause the secret compartment I5 to be swung from one position to the other when the panel member I2 is swung from one position to another about its pivot 23 during the demonstration.

It should be noted that the panel I I is hinged to the panel [2 by sectional hinge portions 24,

and that between the hinge portions 24 there is an imitation hinge portion 25 arranged along the edge of the panel I2 which is disposed toward the secret compartment I5.

The operation of the apparatus may now be explained. Starting with the parts in the posi tion shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the spectators being located to the front, that is to say so that they shall view the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 3, looking from the left thereof. The secret compartment l5 being at this time disposed to the rear will not be seen by the spectators.

The apparatus is now turned over, swinging the same in its entirety about a horizontal axis and at the same time the secret compartment member I5 is swung from the position shown in Fig, 3 of the drawings to that shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, that is to say, this member is moved from one side of the plane of the intermediate panel I I, in which the secret compartment I5 is pivotally mounted, to the other side of said plane to cause the secret compartment l5 to be swung from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The secret compartment I5 being again disposed to the rear while the inner surfaces of the panel members III, II and I2 are shown to the spectators they will be then convinced that there is no place where any of the articles to be produced, vanished, or exchanged may be hidden.

The apparatus is then manipulated to fold the panels II), II and I2 to form an open ended triangular prism as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and in so doing, the secret compartment I5 will be automatically swung inwardly so that the same will now be disposed entirely within the prism.

The performer may now reach in and remove from the secret compartment 15 any articles, such as silk handkerchiefs or the like, which had previously been inserted therein before the beginning of the performance, and without the knowledge of the spectators. Or, on the other hand, the performer may, if he prefers, start with the secret compartment I5 empty and insert an article to be vanished in the end of the apparatus when the same is in the condition shown in Fig. 1,

45. vanished, or exchanged, said compartment mempushing the same inwardly until it is entirely within the secret compartment I5. The apparatus may then be opened to the position shown in Fig. 3 and then manipulated to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Of course, various other routines may be employed, as will be readily apparent to magical performers. Before the performance begins the performer may insert a number of handkerchiefs in the secret compartment l5 and then after a demonstration of the innocence of the apparatus, a similar number of hankerchiefs may be in serted in the end of the apparatus, after the same has been folded to the condition as shown in Fig. 1. Upon pushing the handkerchiefs in at one end or the other of the apparatus, the handkerchiefs which had been previously inserted in the secret compartment I5 will be pushed out at the other end, causing the spectators to believe that in some magical manner a change of color has been effected within the seemingly empty tube.

It will be seen that there is thus provided, for the use of entertainers who perform seemingly magical feats, a useful piece of apparatuswhich may be employed in a variety of ways to produce the desired magical effects.

I claim:

1. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges, one of said panels having an opening therein, and a secret compartment member adapted to receive articles to be produced, vanished, or exchanged, said compartment member being pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to swing from one side to the other of said panel accordingly as the apparatus is displayed.

2. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges and adapted to be brought to such positions as to form an open ended prism, one of said panels having an opening therein, a secret open ended compartment member adapted to receive articles to be produced,

ber being pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to swing from one side to the other of said panel accordingly as the apparatus is displayed.

3. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges and adapted to be brought to such positions as to form an open ended prism, one of said panels having an opening therein, a secret open ended compartment member adapted to receive articles to be produced, vanished, or exchanged, said compartment member being pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to swing from one side to the other of said panel accordingly as the apparatus is displayed, and means adapted when said panels are manipulated with respect to each other to constrain said compartment member to swing from one concealed position to another.

4. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges and adapted to be brought to such positions as to, form an open ended prism, one of said panels having an opening therein, a secret compartment memberadapted to receive articles tobe produced, vanished,..or exchanged, said compartment member being open at its ends and pivotally mounted in said opening, being adapted to swing from one side to the other of said panel accordingly as the apparatus is displayed, and a link connection between said compartment member and another of the panels of the apparatus whereby said compartment member will be constrained to swing from one concealed position to another when said panels are manipulated with respect to each other.

5. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges and adapted to be brought to such positions as to form an open ended prism, a secret compartment member adapted to receive articles to be produced, vanished, or exchanged, said compartment member being pivotally mounted in and adapted to swing from one side to the other of one of said panels accordingly as the apparatus is displayed, said compartment member being open at its ends to permit access thereto through the open ends of the folded apparatus, and a link member connecting a portion of said compartment member to another of the panels of the apparatus whereby said compartment member will be constrained to swing from one concealed position to another when said panels are manipulated with respect to each other.

6. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges, one of said panels having an opening therein, a secret compartment member adapted to receive articles tobe produced, vanished, or exchanged, said compartment member being pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to swing from one side to the other of said panel accordingly as the apparatus is displayed, and a link member connecting a portion of said compartment member to another of v the panels of the apparatus whereby said compartment member will be constrained to swing from one concealed position to another when said panels are manipulated with respect to each other.

7. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges, one of said panels having an opening therein, a secret compartment member adapted to receive-articles to be produced, vanished, or exchanged, said compartment member being pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to swing from one side to the other of said panel accordingly as the apparatus is displayed, and means adapted to cause said compartment member to swing from one concealed position to another when said panels are manipulated with respect to each other.

8. Magical apparatus comprising a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other along their abutting edges, one of said panels having an opening therein, a secret compartment member adapted to receive articles to be produced, vanished, or exchanged, said compartment member being pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to swing from one sideto the other of said panel accordingly as theapparatus is displayed, and a link connection between said compartment member and another of the panels of the apparatus whereby said compartment member will be constrained to swing from one concealed position to another when said panels are manipulated with respect to each other.

ED AR M- M EY= 

